War-themed board games captivate players with their intense battles and strategic depth, offering an epic experience that can last an evening or an entire day. Whether you're commanding fleets across a galaxy or leading Viking clans into Ragnarök, these games promise a thrilling journey filled with strategy and excitement. Gather your friends, stock up on snacks and drinks, and prepare for a long, immersive adventure.
Here are some tips to ensure longer games run smoothly: Consider downloading a PDF of the rulebook, which many publishers offer for free, and have everyone read it beforehand. Encourage players to handle administrative tasks like sorting cards or counters outside their turn. You might also want to set a time limit for each turn, if all players consent. Now, let's dive into the games!
TL;DR: These Are the Best War Board Games
Arcs Dune: War for Arrakis Sniper Elite: The Board Game Twilight Imperium IV Blood Rage Dune Kemet: Blood and Sand Star Wars: Rebellion Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear Undaunted: Normandy / Undaunted: North Africa Root Twilight Struggle: Red Sea A Game of Thrones: The Board Game War of the Ring Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
Arcs
0See it War games with more than two players often juggle the action on the board with the negotiations and alliances between players. Arcs masterfully balances these elements, as highlighted in our 10/10 review. Its innovative mechanics, inspired by traditional trick-taking card games, provide multiple strategic options. Yet, there's no shortage of thrilling spacecraft battles on the circular board, which rewards aggression and discourages defensive play. Despite its rich features, you can build a full-fledged space empire in under two hours, making it perfect for a game night or as a prelude to its narrative campaign expansion.
Dune: War for Arrakis
1See it at Amazon Don't mistake this for the multi-player negotiation game Dune further down the list—War for Arrakis is a head-to-head battle for two, pitting the noble Atreides against the sinister Harkonnen in a struggle for the precious spice. The game is highly asymmetric, featuring the guerrilla tactics of the Atreides and their Fremen allies, including summoned sandworms, against the larger, wealthier forces of the Harkonnen. The Harkonnen player must also focus on harvesting and shipping spice to maintain economic advantages. Designed by the same team behind War of the Ring, this game uses quality plastic miniatures and an excellent action dice system, requiring constant strategy reassessment, yet it's much quicker to play.
Sniper Elite: The Board Game
1See it at Amazon Fans of the video game series might be surprised by the close-quarters action in this tabletop version, but its charms are undeniable. The stealth mechanics are well-preserved, with the sniper player moving slowly and silently against a ticking clock and roving German squads trying to detect them. This adds escalating tension, complemented by a historical veneer lacking in the video game, with thematic components and realistic combat. The game includes two different boards and various sniper loadout options and squad specialists for the German player, ensuring high replay value and deep tactical choices.
Twilight Imperium IV
8See it at Amazon Few games match the epic scale of this sci-fi civilization-building adventure, which can last an entire day. It encompasses everything you might want from the genre: diverse alien races researching technology and building fleets to vie for control of a random galactic hex map. Diplomacy is key, alongside in-game political decrees, but it's built on a robust strategic foundation. The strategy card system, where players choose a special focus each round, is a mechanical highlight. This fourth edition maintains its vast scope while streamlining the gameplay for better accessibility.
Blood Rage
1See it at Amazon In Blood Rage, you lead a Viking clan into the end times of Ragnarök, seeking glory and a place in Valhalla. Despite its violent theme and stunning components, the game offers deep strategic layers. You'll draft cards to plan your actions each round, carefully managing your warriors and monsters to pillage regions and complete quests for glory. Competition is fierce, with battles resolved through an exciting blind card system. This game perfectly blends tactical challenge, thematic immersion, and raw brutality, making it a standout conflict-based classic.
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Dune
7See it at Amazon Dune offers a unique futuristic experience, distinct from Dune: Imperium. Based on Frank Herbert's iconic novel and first released in 1979, it was ahead of its time. The game minimizes randomness, focusing instead on a delicate balance of hidden information and asymmetrical strategies. Each player represents a faction from the book, wielding unique powers. For instance, the Atreides can peek at auctioned cards, while the Harkonnen know all secret traitors. This new edition boasts clearer rules and stunning artwork, truly capturing the novel's narrative and political themes.
Kemet: Blood and Sand
0See it at Amazon Imagine ancient Egyptian gods and mythical creatures clashing in the desert. That's Kemet. You can strategize using tech pyramids to customize your powers for attack and defense, and use the same battle cards as your opponents, leading to intense mind games. The board's design ensures no hiding, with every player a short move away from engaging in fierce combat. It's all about swift, brutal violence, making it a thrilling experience.
Star Wars: Rebellion
14See it at Amazon Star Wars: Rebellion brings the beloved franchise to your tabletop with a creative twist. The Rebellion player must survive and win over planets while the Empire player leverages its vast military might to quash dissent. This asymmetric struggle features familiar characters and events from the movies, but the narrative unfolds through your choices. The game's strategic depth ensures every turn is filled with challenges and variety.
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear
0See it at Amazon Tactical wargames can be bogged down by complexity, but the Conflict of Heroes series strikes a perfect balance. Using a simple system of action points, dice, and differing defense values, it offers excitement, realism, and tactical challenge. Starting simple, it expands to include artillery, vehicles, and tanks for a comprehensive World War II experience. The command point system, allowing extra actions during your opponent's turn, adds a layer of strategic genius, making every point spent feel crucial.
Undaunted: Normandy
5See it at Amazon
Undaunted: North Africa
3See it at Amazon
Undaunted Stalingrad
1See it at Amazon The Undaunted series cleverly uses deck-building to simulate infantry combat with minimal rules. Officer cards allow you to add units to your deck, mimicking real-time orders and supplies. Unit cards move corresponding troop counters on the modular scenario map, engaging in battles and capturing objectives. As casualties mount, your deck thins, reflecting eroding morale. These games offer an accessible and engaging way to relive the pivotal moments of the Second World War.
Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right
18$59.99 save 25%$44.99 at Amazon Root is a shorter game that stands out with its bold asymmetry. Four factions vie for control of a woodland realm, each with unique rules and playstyles. The Marquise de Cat and the Eyrie engage in traditional conquest, while the Woodland Folk employ guerrilla tactics, and the Vagabond operates as a lone trickster-hero. Despite its charming theme and art, Root is a game of brutal strategy, raising significant questions about politics and governance.
Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
0See it at Amazon The original Twilight Struggle is renowned for its complexity and length, but Red Sea retains the compelling card-play mechanics while reducing playtime to about an hour. Players face tough decisions on triggering events that might benefit their opponent, all while navigating their hand of cards. A new scoring mechanic increases excitement, and history buffs can delve into the Cold War's lesser-known East African theater, with real historical events simulated through game mechanics and a designer's notes book.
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
2$64.95 save 21%$50.99 at Amazon This game captures the political intrigue and backstabbing of the books and TV show. Borrowing from classic Diplomacy, it ensures only one player can win, necessitating alliances and inevitable betrayals. A secret order system keeps everyone guessing until the last moment. The game adds strategic depth with elements from the world of Westeros, making it a must-play for fans of the franchise.
War of the Ring
2$89.99 save 22%$70.36 at Amazon This game is the best adaptation of Tolkien's works to the board game format. It features two intertwined games: the epic battle across Middle-earth and the Fellowship's quest to destroy the One Ring. The genius lies in how these two aspects interact, creating a challenging tactical balance for players.
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
3$207.00 at Amazon While the Twilight Imperium series focuses on warfare and diplomacy, Eclipse emphasizes long-term strategic planning in sci-fi civilization-building. Its systems for initiative and technology upgrades require forward-thinking as you expand into the galaxy. This tactical depth enhances the exploration and combat without relying on dice luck.
If you like these, be sure to check out our picks for the overall best board games and the best board game deals.
What Counts as a Wargame?
In gaming circles, "wargame" often refers to games simulating historical conflicts, a niche but popular genre. Titles like Awakening the Bear and Twilight Struggle: Red Sea fit this definition, offering detailed historical research and gameplay. However, the term can also encompass games about hypothetical conflicts, like the Cold War turning into World War III, or those with historical settings but not focused on simulation, such as Undaunted. Some even include games set in entirely fictional or sci-fi scenarios. We use the broadest definition, covering games that explore conflict from various perspectives, from historical simulations to fantasy diplomacy. For those interested in specific sub-genres, enthusiast websites offer deeper exploration.
